What is BS EN 1459‑2 - Safety requirements and verification of slewing variable-reach trucks about?
BS EN 1459‑2 covers general safety requirements and the means for verification of these requirements for slewing rough-terrain variable-reach trucks.
BS EN 1459‑2 covers slewing rough-terrain variable-reach trucks that are primarily designed to transport and place loads to elevated work areas and can be driven on unimproved terrain.
BS EN 1459‑2 specifies the general safety requirements of slewing variable-reach rough terrain trucks, consisting of a lower chassis with a slewing upper structure equipped with a telescopic lifting means (pivoted boom), on which a load handling device (e.g., carriage and fork arms) is typically fitted.
Note 1: BS EN 1459‑2 does not apply to:
- Variable-reach rough terrain trucks covered by BS EN 1459-1
- Industrial variable-reach trucks covered by EN ISO 3691-2
- Lorry-mounted variable-reach trucks
- Mobile cranes covered by EN 13000
- Machines designed primarily for earthmoving, such as loaders and dozers, even if their buckets and blades are replaced with forks
- Trucks designed primarily with variable length load suspension elements (e.g., chain, ropes) from which the load may swing freely in all directions
- Trucks designed primarily for container handling, trucks on tracks
Note 2: BS EN 1459‑2 does not address hazards linked to:
- Hybrid power systems, gas power system
- Trucks equipped with gasoline engine, battery power system
- Tractor specific devices, tilting or elevating operator position
Note 3: BS EN 1459‑2 does not address hazards that may occur when:
- Handling suspended loads which may swing freely
- Using trucks on public roads, operating in potentially explosive atmospheres
- Operating underground, when towing trailers, fitted with a personnel work platform
Who is BS EN 1459‑2 - Safety requirements and verification of slewing variable-reach trucks?
BS EN 1459‑2 on safety requirements of slewing variable-reach trucks is applicable to:
- Truck manufactures
- Truck designers
- Truck operators
- Safety regulatory bodies
- End Users and consumers
- Maintenance personnel of trucks
Why should you use BS EN 1459‑2 - Safety requirements and verification of slewing variable-reach trucks?
People who work with variable reach trucks can find themselves in hazardous situations where severe injury might occur to them. It’s important for the manufacturers, designers, and operators to assess all the risks associated with it. Hence crucial safety guidelines need to be followed which are compliant with regulatory authorities.
BS EN 1459‑2 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations, and events relevant to the trucks when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.
By adopting BS EN 1459‑2 manufacturers can demonstrate the safety of their slewing variable-reach trucks and ultimately reduce the risks of hazardous situations. BS EN 1459‑2 specifies the requirements for the safe operation of variable-reach trucks.
